Hydraulic valve



Oct. 25, 1949. F. J. WRIGHT 2,486,087

HYDRAULIC VALVE Original Filed July 29, 1945 1 A N 35 (6 Y 7 Lr l 0 4 eFEED J. WEiGHT,

HTT'Y Patented Oct. 25, 1949 HYDRAULIC VALVE Fred J. Wright, Columbus,Ohio, assignor to The Gallon Iron Works 8: Manufacturing Company, acorporation of Ohio Original applications July 29, 1943, Serial No.494,634, and November 27, 1944, Serial No. 565,356. Divided and thisapplication November 10, 1945, Serial No. 627,848

Claims. (Cl. 277-57) This invention relates to a hydraulic valve or abank of hydraulic valves.

An object of the invention is to provide both an improved individualvalve and an improved bank of valves.

A- more 'speciflc object of the invention is to provide a valve or bankof valves of the four-way spool type which when in the form of a bank ofvalves provides'a series open or no-load by-pass circuit for the sourceof hydraulic fluid when all the valves are in their neutral positionsand one in which the associated double acting motors may be operated inseries, the valves having a further feature that oil leakage chambersare provided at opposite ends of the 'valve which are isolated from thepressure of the hydraulic fluid flowing through the feed and/or motorports of the valve. Furthermore, in the banked valve arrangement thereis a continuous drain passageway through all the valve bodies whichdrains the leakage chambers to tank.

Other objects 'of the invention will appear hereinafter, the novelfeatures and combinations being set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a system including three banked valvesshown in section and illustrating my invention in one of itsembodiments;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of one of the four-way valveassemblies; and

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the complete hydraulic systemincorporating the 'three banked four-way valves.

This application is a division of my application Serial No. 496,634 fora Hydraulic system, filed July 29, 1943, since abandoned, and of myapplication Serial No. 565,356 for a Hydraulic system and apparatus,filed November 27, 1944, now Patent No. 2,464,110 issued March 8, 1949.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings, the hydraulicsystem illustrated includes a tank l0 adapted to contain hydraulic fluidwhich acts as a source of supply for a pressure developing pump H, theoutput of which is delivered to a pressure pipe or conduit l2 whichconducts the hydraulic fluid to an assembly or bank l3 of similar oridentical valves, each individual valve being designated by thereference character l4. Since the valves M are all identical inconstruction similar reference characters will be employed in describingthe individual parts thereof.

Each valve It includes a main casting or body I5, the three bodies beingmounted adjacent each other and held between feed and discharge endplates l6 and II, respectively, the former of which receives the feedconduit l2 and the latter of which receives a discharge or tank conduitor pipe l8 which conducts the fluid back to the tank [0. A high pressurerelief valve l9 interconnects the conduits l2 and I3 to protect thesystem against extensive pressure.

, Referring particularly to the structureof each of the valves M, thevalve body or casting I5 is provided with a through bore 20 of bottomdiameter which extends straight through the casting l5 from the top tothe bottom. Adjacent the center of the bore 20 and in communicationtherewith is a central feed chamber 2| through which hydraulic fluid iseither conducted into the bore 20 or conducted therefrom, depending uponthe direction of flow of the hydraulic fluid.

On each side of the central feed chamber 2| and in communication withbore 20 is a motor chamber, the two motor chambers being designated 22and 23. Each of the motor chambers 22 and 23 is connected by appropriatepassageways in the body l5 and connecting conduits 24 and 25 to oppositeends of a double acting motor, those illustrated in Fig. 3 of thedrawings being of the piston type and designated 26, 21 and 28,respectively, for the three valves, as viewed from left to right inFigs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. That is, each of the valves I4 isindividual to a double acting motor 26, 21 or 28 and, as hereinafterdescribed, is controllable to effect reverse operation thereof or tolock it in any position of adjustment while providing a by-pass path forthe hydraulic fluid. Furthermore the system is such that any two or allthree of the valves may be actuated from their neutral positionssimultaneously to connect two or three of said motors 26,21 and 28 inseries.

Spaced outwardly from each motor chamber 22 and 23 and in communicationwith bore 20 is another feed chamber, the two feed chambers beingdesignated 29 and 30. The two outside feed chambers 29 and 30 arepermanently interconnected by a passageway 31 formed in the body orcasting l5, and the passageway 3| is provided with an opening or port 32which opens on a. flat surface 33 forming one face of the casting l5which has contact over a substantial area with a similar flat surface onthe feed end plate IS.

The casting or body I! has another flat surface or face 34 which isparallel with the flat surface 33 and on the opposite side of the bodyor casting l5, and this flat surface 34 is adapted to contact anadjacent flat surface 33 of'anadjacent valve is, of course, obvious thatthe number of valves l4 may be reduced to a mimnium of one or increasedto any desired number, though in certain aspects of the invention thereare features which are provided particularly in contemplaf'on of therebeing two or more individual banked valves I 3 in the assembly.

The central feed chamber 2! leads through a short passageway to anopening or port 31 which is located substantially at the center of thefiat surface 34 and thus is in alignment with the opening or port 32. Asa consequence of this fact, by the mere expedient of assembling thecastings. l5, the central feed chamber 2| of each valve 14 will havepermanent and direct com- -munication through the aligned openings orports 32 and 3'! with the two end feed chambers 29 and 30 of thesucceeding valve It, through a passageway 8l.

The final or left-hand valve it willprovide direct communication fromits central feed chamber 2| through its opening 32 to an aligneddischarge opening 38 formed in the discharge end plate H, which opening39 is connected by a passageway in said discharge end plate H to thedischarge pipe [9. The feed plate It similarly provides communicationfrom conduit l2 to the opening 32 of the right-hand valve it.

Slidable rectilinearly in each valve bore 20 is a spool 39 of thedrilled or hollow type. The spool 39 includes a central land 90 andspaced upper and lower or end lands 9| and M. The center portion of thespool 39, is provided with a longitudinally extending bore 83 or, inother words, it is hollow. Each land of spool 39 is also provided withone or more radial bores which preferably extend entirelytherethroughand extend at least from an outer surface thereof to the interior bore33, the radial bores associated with lands 20, M and 92 being designated99, t5, and 46, respectively.

The spools 39 also provide reduced shanks 97 and 48 between the lands toand M and 90 and 42, respectively. Adjacent its top the spool 39 isprovided with an integral operating shaft or stem 49 adapted to beoperated by a pivoted handle 50. Adjacent its bottom the spool 39includes an extension shaft or stem 9!. In the manufacture of the spool,according to one practice, the extension shait is provided with anintegral head which is welded to the main body of the spool 39 and isturned down and ground smooth to form the bottom land as. The extensionshaft 5| is a part of the spring centering mechanism of the valve whichis generally designated 52 and which is of substantial standardconstructoin, operating to center the spool 39 whenever the operatinglever 50 is released and predetermining the limit of throw of the spool39 in either of its reverse directions of operation under the influenceof handle 50.

The centering mechanism 52 in contained in a leakage oil reservoir orchamber 53 which is formed in a removable hollow bottom cap 59 which isremovably attached to the base or bottom of the body or casting It. Theoperating shaft 49 for the spool 39 extends through a hole or opening ina top or upper cap 55 which is hollow to provide a leakage oilreservoiror chamber 56, which chamber also provides for the upwardtravel of the spool 39, particularly as illus-' trated in the right-handvalve M. An oil seal 57 is provided for the operating shaft 49 where itextends through the cap 55.

One of the features of my invention lies in the particular arrangementof parts which prevents the seal 51 of each valve i4 being'subjected tosignificant pressure which, if present, would tend to cause it to seizethe stem 49 and would tend to blow it'out. For example, it will benoticed by reference to Fig. 1 ofthe drawings that the lefthand valvespool 39 is in its neutral position and the right-hand valve spool 39 isin its upward operating position, and the central valve spool 39 is inits downward operating position. Under such conditions the motor 26 willbe actuated in series with the motor 21 and they will be operating inreverse directions, the motor 28 being idle and its piston being sealedor locked in position, its valve l6 providing a by-pass for it.

It is to be particularly noted that for all three of the operatingpositions of a valve 14, which are illustrated, the chambers 53 and 5Bare completely isolated by the lands 4i and 42 from the pressure of thehydraulic fluid in the system. In other words, the only fluid which canreach the chambers 53 and 56 is leakage fluid which leaks past the sealsprovided by the lands Al and 42. As a consequence of this fact, under nocircumstances will there be appreciable pressure in the chambers 53 and56. This has two important characteristics: First of all it insuressubstantially complete balance of the spools 39 without requiring boththe stems 49 and iii to extend through seals or, in other words, to beexposed to atmosphere. Stated another way, it provides for a completelybalanced valve, while permitting one end of the spool to be enclosed; inthis instance, it being the bottom of the spool. A second importantfeature is that it relieves each seal 51 of hydraulic pressure, thuspreventing its seizing or blowing out.

Furthermore, it is to be noted that this result is accomplished by afour-way valve which requires only three lands on the spool and whichprovides a no-load by-pass circuit when the spool is in its neutralposition, thus eliminating the necessity for any external by-passcircuit.

To drain the leakage oil reservoirs or chambers 53 and 56 I haveprovided a drainage passageway which is a continuous passageway formedautomatically through the entire assembly, merely uponthe assembly oftwo or more valves it, without requiring any external fittings orconduits. This construction is particularly important where the bankedvalve arrangement is employed, though it is desirable even for a singlevalve.

To this end, each of the bodies or castings I5 is provided with athrough passageway 58 (see Fig. 2) which extends between alignedopenings on the parallel opposite faces 33 and 3t. Extendassaoa-rindividual passageways 59 are all in direct communication and provide acontinuous drain passageway through the assembly. and the righthandmostpassageway i9 communicates with a drain passageway in the end dischargeplate H which is in permanent communication with the tank or dischargepipe I8. 4

To review briefly the operation of the system and the valve, if all thevalves are released they will have moved automatically to their neutralpositions and locked their individual motors 26, 21 and 29 in position.This locking is eflfected by virtue of the fact that the two motor ports22 and 23 are sealed between central land 40 and one of the end lands 4|or 42. This is clearly illustrated feed chamber to a feed opening on oneside of by the left-hand valve in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

Furthermore, an open or substantially no-load path will be provided forthe flow of fluid delivered by the pump ll since it will flow throughthe feed passageway 3| of the right-hand casting l5, dividing andflowing through the two branches thereof and through the end feedchambers 29 and 30 thereof, thence through the bores 45 and 49 inthelands 4i and 42 and into the central bore 43 in the spool 39, passingthrough the radial bores 44 in central land 40 into the central feedchamber 2| from which it will flow to the central valve l4 and over asimilar path which will again occur in the left-hand valve l4, finallypassing through opening 39 and connecting passageway in end plate II totank It by way of conduit It. If the right-hand spool 99 is movedupwardly by operating its lever 50 to actuate the motor 26 in onedirection, the parts will be in the positions illustrated in Fig. 1 ofthe drawings. In this case the hydraulic fluid in passageway 31 can onlyflow through the upper feed chamber 29, since the lower feed chamber 30is blocked by land 42.

The-hydraulic fluid will thus flow from feed chamber 29 through valvebore along the reduced shank portion 41 of the spool 39 and into themotor port 22 from which it will be conducted by conduit 24 to the upperend of piston motor I 29, actuating said piston motor. Returning fluidfrom the motor 26 will flow through conduit to motor chamber 23, thencethrough valve bore 20 along reduced shank 48 to the, central feedchamber 2|. From central feed chamber 2| the fluid will flow topassageway 3| of the central valve I4 and be directed to the bottom feedchamber 30 thereof, being directed to the motor 21 over a path which isobvious from the above description of the right-hand valve i4,ultimately being delivered to the passageway- SI of the lefthand valvethrough which it will flow, by-passing the motor 29.

The valve assembly, of course, provides for the series operation of thehydraulic motors 26, 21, and 28, thus making it possible to operate twoor more of them simultaneously.

Also, as above pointed out, the spools 39'under all operating conditionsare-balanced and furthermore the leakage chambers in the caps 54 and 55are isolated from the hydraulic fluid flowing through the feed and motorchambers as well as the feed passageways of each valve, with thedesirable characteristics above pointed out.

Obviously those skilled in the art may make various changes in thedetails and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as defined by the claims hereto appended, and Itherefore wish not to be restricted to the precise construction hereindisclosed.

Having thus described and shown an embodisaid body, a passageway leadingfrom both of said end feed chambers and confining the flow of hydraulicfluid therefrom to a feed opening on the opposite side of said body inalignment with the first mentioned feed opening,.a spool slidable insaid bore, said spool being hollow and having three lands including acenter land and .two end lands, each of said lands having a radialopening extendingi'rom the hollow interior of said spool to the landsurface and cooperating with the hollow spool and feed chambers and saidpassageways to provide an open path for flowof hydraulic fluid throughsaid valve when the spool is in its neutral position, said spool beingoperable in reverse directions to shut ofi said open path and I connectopposite ends of said motor chambers with said center and one of saidend feed chambers, respectively.

2. A banked valve assembly including a plurality of duplicate four-wayspool valves, means assembling said valves in banked arrangement, eachof said valves including a body having a straight bore extendingtherethrough, a feed chamber located adjacent the center of said bodyand communicating with said bore, a pair of motor chambers on oppositesides ofsaid feed chamber and also communicating with said bore, a feedchamber located outwardly of each motor chamber and also communicatingwith said bore, a cap .on each end of saidbody, each cap providing -anoil leakage chamber communicating with an end of said bore, a spoolslidable in said bore and having a stem extending through one of saidcaps, an oil seal for said stem where it extends through said one cap,said spool being hollow and having three lands including a center landand two end lands, each of said lands having a radial opening extendingfrom the hollow interior of said spool to the land surface andcooperating with the hollow spool and feed chambers andpassageways toprovide an open path for flow of hydraulic fluid through said valve whenthe spool is in its neutral position, said spool being operable inreverse directions to shut off said open path and connect opposite onesof said motor chambers with said center and one of said end feedchambers, respectively, a common drain passageway in said bodycommunicating with both said end cap oil leakage chambers and isolatedin said body from said spool receiving bore and from said feed and motorchambers, said end lands being constructed so that they always isolatethe oil leakage chambers in said end caps from the pressure of hydraulicfluid in said feed or motor chambers for all positions of adjustment ofsaid spool, a passageway leading from said central feed chamber to afeed opening on one side of said body, and a passageway leading fromboth said end feed chambers and confining the flow of hydraulic fluidtherefrom to a feed opening on the opposite side of said body inalignment with said first mentioned feed opening, said common drainpassageway in each body having aligned openings on opposite faceswhereby a continuous isolated through drain passageway is provided inthe banked valve assembly.

3. A banked valve assembly including at least three duplicate four-wayspool valves, means assembling said valves iii-banked arrangement, eachof said valves including a. body-having a straight bore extendingtherethrough, a feed chamber located adjacent the center of said bodyand communicating with said bore, a pair of motor chambers on oppositesides of said feed chamber and also communicating with said bore. a feedchamber located outwardly of each motor chamber and also communicatingwith said bore, a cap on each end of said body, each cap providing anoil leakage chamber communicating with an end of said bore, a spoolslidable in said bore and having a stem extending through one said caps,an oil seal for said stem where it extends through said one cap, saidspool being hollow and having three lands including a center land andtwo end lands, each of said lands having a radial opening extending fromthe hollow interior of said spool to the land surface and cooperatingwith the hollow spool and feed chambers and passageways to provide anopen path for flow of hydraulic fluid through said valve when the spoolis in its neutral position, said spool being operable in reversedirections to shut on said open path and connect opposite ones oi saidmotmchambers with said center and one of said end feed chambers,respectively, a common drain passageway in said body communicating withboth said end cap oil leakage chambers and isolated in said body fromsaid spool receiving bore and from said feed and motor chambers, saidend lands being constructed so that they always isolate the oil leakagechambers in said end caps from the pressure of hydraulic fluid in saidfeed or motor chambers for all positions of adjustment of said spool, apassageway leading from said central feed chamber to a feed opening onone side of said body, and a passageway leading from both said end feedchambers and confining the flow of hydraulic-fluid therefrom to a feedopening on the opposite side of said body in alignment with said firstmentioned feed opening, said common drain passageways in each bodyhaving aligned openings on opposite faces whereby a continuous isolatedthrough drain passagewa is provided in the banked valve assembly.

4. A banked valve assembly including at least three duplicate four-wayspool valves, means assembling said valves in banked arrangement, eachof said valves including a body having a straight bore extendingtherethrough, a feed chamber located adjacent the center of said bodyand communicating with said bore, a pair of motor chambers on oppositesides of said feed chamber and also communicating with said bore, a feedchamber located outwardly of each motor chamber and also communicatingwith said bore,

8 a spool slidable in said bore, said spool being hollow and havingthree lands including a center land and two end lands, each of saidlands having a radial opening extendingfrom the hollow interior of saidspool to the land surface and cooperating with the hollow spool and feedchambers and passageways to provide an open path for flow of hydraulicfluid through said valvewhen the spool is in its neutralposition, saidspool being operable in reverse directions to shut ofl said open pathand connect opposite ones of said motor chambers with said center andone of said end feed chambers, respectively, a passageway leading fromsaid central feed chamber to a feed opening on one side of said body,and a passageway leading from both said end feed chambers and confiningthe flow .of hydraulic fluid therefrom to a feed opening on the oppositeside of said body in alignment with said first mentioned feed opening.

5. A banked valve assembly including a plurality of duplicate four-wayspool valves, means assembling said valves in banked arrangement, eachof said valves including a body having a straight bore extendingtherethrough, 'a feed chamber located adjacent the center of said bodyand communicating with said bore, a pair of motor chambers on oppositesides of said feed chamber and also communicating with said bore, a feedchamber located outwardly of each motor chamber and also communicatingwith said bore, a spool slidable in said bore, said spool being hollowand having three lands including a center land and two end lands, eachof said lands having a radial opening extending from the hollowinterior. of said spool to the land surface and woncrating with thehollow spool and feed chambers and passageways to provide an open pathfor flow of hydraulic fluid through said valve when the spool is in itsneutral position, said spool being operable in reverse directions toshut 'ofi said open path and connect opposite ones of said motorchambers with said center and one of said end feed chambers,respectively, a passageway leading from said central feed chamber to afeed opening on one side of said body, and a passageway leading fromboth said end feed chambers and confining the flow of hydraulic fluidtherefrom to a feed opening on the opposite side of said body inalignment with said first mentioned feed opening.

FRED J. WRIGHT.

nnraanncns orran The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,158,558 Atkins May 16, 19392,289,567 Berglund July 14, 1942 2,354,336 Sloane July 25, 1944

